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Mistral sold to mystery buyer
11/06/2004
The auction of former Festival ship Mistral took place yesterday in Marseilles. The reserve price had been set at €130m by MacAndrews, agent for the ship and subsidiary of French shipping company CMA-CGM.
Mistral was bought for €131m by Auro Shipping, a Marshall Islands based firm established to buy the ship. However, nobody - including attorney Mr Provensal representing MacAndrews and also one of the buyers - knows who is behind Auro.

Seatrade Insider understands the ship is already chartered and will sail for the summer under a new name

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Does anyone have any other info???

tyler

[ 06-11-2004: Message edited by: lebelty ]

Any Idea where she might sail or what her new name might be?

This Year MSC has the old and small Rhapsody in that Region, the Rhapsody is not at all able to fight the Ships of Costa as an Competitor.

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Originally posted by lebelty:
Thanks Amerikanis and Maasdam for your help.

Any Idea where she might sail or what her new name might be?

thanks again,
tyler

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Originally posted by Amerikanis:
An other Idea could be to bring the Ship in Future to Northern Europe, for Cruises in the Baltic and to Norway, Iceland, Scotland, round Britain.

This Year MSC has the old and small Rhapsody in that Region, the Rhapsody is not at all able to fight the Ships of Costa as an Competitor.

With the Mistral they could offer an equal Ship to
Costa Tonnage.

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psssssssssssssssst i say nothing it will stay a mystery.

[ 06-12-2004: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

Maasdam, what will she be named? Where will she be sailing?

Maasdam, what will she be named? Where will she be sailing?

Sorry Bulbousbow i just was kidding around if you read my other post i just only make fun as iff i have bought the ship (afcorse i dith not)

I hope you will see the fun of it greatings Maasdam

[ 06-13-2004: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

It was also stated that "Oceanic" would receive a refit, at least of the cabins, so she would also sail on a bit further. I have the impression "Oceanic" though old, is rather beloved by her spanish public, she is sometimes called "muy digno".

Cheers

The hole story happened for financial and legal reasons so the ship too be ready to be sold without any problems.

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...Seatrade Insider heard rumours at St Nazaire shipyard last week, during the naming ceremony of MSC Opera, that one possible outcome might be that the 47,276gt vessel is stretched at Chantiers de l’Atlantique with balconies added to increase the existing 1,196 lower berth capacity and make it more attractive to a potential new buyer.

MSC Cruises had said previously it was not looking to purchase Mistral as it considered the ship to be too small.

Edited from: “Alstom is Mistral's mystery buyer” Seatrade Insider - June 15, 2004

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MSC has said all along that they wouldn’t purchase the MISTRAL unless of course it was offered at a good price (better than the 130 Euro price tag). If she was stretched she would be better value offering better “economies of scale”.

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...MSC Cruises has two new ships on order with Chantiers d’Atlantique (Alstom) to be delivered in 2006 and 2007 plus an option on a third vessel. Aponte added ‘we have other projects to increase our capacity rather quickly.’ Foreseen is a fleet of eight ships by 2007 with a total capacity of around 15,000 beds.

Edited from: “MSC Opera takes to the sea” Seatrade Insider - June 10, 2004”

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That rather “quickly” would be the purchase of EUROPEAN STARS and “other projects” may also include a stretched MISTRAL. Obviously rumours don’t come from nothing, so there must have been some talk between Alstom and MSC regarding MISTRAL. The question is, are there any reasons why MSC shouldn’t purchase a stretched and improved MISTRAL?

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Cheers

[ 06-15-2004: Message edited by: bulbousbow ]

MSC Opera is in Marseille today (Wednesday, June 16th) where approximately 1500 travel agencies will have their staff view the ship.

She'll be officially named by perennial Italian actress Sophia Loren on June 26 (Ms Loren named MSC Lirica in April 2003). MSC Opera will start her rotation (Pearls of the Mediterranean) in the Western Med on June 27 and finish on November 14. The 8day/7night cruises will visit Sicily/Tunisia/Balearic Islands/Spain and France with prices starting at 1.070 € per person (interior cabin 2 lower beds) and 1.650 € for external cabins with balcony.

Festival’s EUROPEAN STARS will be auctioned in July. No firm date has been communicated.

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Cheers

[ 06-15-2004: Message edited by: bulbousbow ]